When the Holidays Meet Complex Sorrow Parenting

It was a holiday. Outside, children spilled into yards and streets, running with sparklers, calling to each other, their laughter cutting through the warm air. Families gathered on porches. Everyone was celebrating. My son was not outside. He lay in bed, in a darkened room, unable to tolerate the noise, the light, the movement of […]

How Understanding Complex Trauma Deepened My Ability to Love Myself

“Being present for your own life is the most radical act of Self-compassion you can offer yourself.” ~Sylvia Boorstein In 2004, I experienced a powerful breakthrough in understanding what it meant to love myself. I could finally understand that self-love is about the relationship that you have with yourself, and that relationship is expressed in […]

The Complex Relationship Between Dissociation and Narcissism

Narcissism and dissociation are psychological phenomena that, while distinct, are deeply interconnected. Both can emerge as adaptive responses to relational trauma or early developmental experiences. This interplay sheds light both on the challenges narcissistic individuals face in maintaining their sense of self, and the impact on their behaviors can have on others. Understanding these dynamics […]